Electric marker lamp for railroad trains



A Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,363

w. B. BARRY, JR.. ET AL ELECTRIC MARKER LAMP FOR RAILROAD TRAINS Filed Jan. 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .WL]. Lam BILL-l E award E17 inventor Que: Me?

Jan. 24, 1928.

W. B. BARRY, JR, ET AL ELECTRIC MARKER LAMP FOR RAILROAD TRAINS Filed Jan. 16, 1925, 2 Sheets$heet 2 illiamElEa 1-] gwvento'v d ward Elli ETS Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES.

wiLLrAM B. BARRY, JR, ornas'r O ANGE, nun EDWARD e. laven er Mon'rcLAIRQ PATTET IoFFic NEW JERSEY. v

ELECTRIC MARKER Lam? ro RAILROAD TRAINS.

Application filed January 16, 1925. Serial No. 2,961.

invention the provision of facile means,

for detachably and electrically connecting the lamp bulb of the improved marker lamp to the train.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved marker lamp, in-

eluding a novel type of one-piece casing, so constructed as to prevent snow, ice, and

other foreign deposits thereon.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a very compact and lightweight marker lamp for trains.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved means for detachably connecting the lamp unit within the casing of a marker lamp.

A further object of this invention is the provision of novel means for mounting .operatedima-rker lamp C is formed of either pressed or cast aluminum, although other marker lamps. i d

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of the rear corner of a train, showing the improved application of the novelmarker lamp thereto.

Figure 2 isa plan view of the improved marker lamp.

Figure 3 isa longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-8 of Fig ure 2, showing internal construction of the marker lamp.

Figures 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Figure 6 is an elevation of the improved marker lamp, showing two faces thereof and the improved mounting means for the marl? er lamp.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose) ol'T illustration is shown only a preferred embodimcnt of the improved electrically operated marker lampythe letter A Inay gencrally designate a train of any approved character, preferably a rear coach on a train,

whichhas thereon at the rear corner there'- of astandard bracket plate Bcfor detachablyt supporting'thenovel type of electrically op crated'marker lamp C, which mayzhave elec-..

trical connection with .a'source of current generated by the train, by means 1). l

The standard, bracket plate Bis. of

well known type, and need not be specifically described, It is attached at the corner.

12 formedbythe juncture. of the side wall 11 and. rear wall 10 at the rear of said coach. It is to be understood that provision is made at each. of the corners of the coach A for a bracket plate; in accordance with conventional practice.

Referring specifically to details of the improved electrically operated marker xlamp C, the same includes a one-piece casing 25; lenses 26 supported thereby; supporting and mounting means 27 by which the improved marker lamp is carried by the plate B; and

The casing 25 of the improved electrically metal ormaterials maybe used. Aluminum casing. The casing i'ncludesa. top wall 30. and the; four side walls 31, 32, and 34,

detachable lamplunit supporting means 28. r

which are arranged in right angled relation with respect toeach other and with respect to the top wall.30. All of thetop and side walls are formed integral, and all sharp corners at. the juncture of said walls are eliminated, and in lieu of sharp corners convex corners 36 struckfrom relatively large radii are provided, so that the casing pro-;

vides but. few sharp obstructions for the. collection of snow, sleet, dirt, or other foreign Each of the-side walls 31 to 84 inmedia. cluslve is provided with a substantially centrallyarranged circular opening 37, for detachably receiving therein the standard tested concavo-convex lens-26, with the convex surface of the lens projecting exterior v ly of theopening and outer side surface of its respective wall of the casing 25. Each of these lenses 26 is provided with a flange portion '88 "overlying the interior surface of its respectivewall about 'theop'ening 37, and

in connection with each lens 26 a clamping ring 10 is provided,adapted t0 overlie this flange 38 of each lens; the ring 40 being provided with a plurality of laterally extending attachingears 41, being apertured,

for receiving countersunk headed screws or vided in the lamp casing 25 is open downwardly through the casing 25, as a means of attaching the lamp unit supporting means 28 in the compartment 45, and as will be subsequently described. 1 y

To facilitate carriage of the marker lamp, when not in position on the train, a bail l7 is pivotally supported by suitableattachmg ears48' secured at op osite sides 31 and 33 of the casing 25; said bail 47 normally extending upwardly of the casing top wall'30.

Referring to the construction '27 attachable to the casing 25 for the purpose of supporting the electrically operated marker lamp from its bracket plate B, the same in cludes a circular collar or hollow cylindrical member 50 within the lower open end of thecasing 25, the same beingof sufficient diameter to contact the inner surfaces of the side walls 31 to 34 inclusive, and therein the said collar 50 is riveted, as by rivets 51 and 51 to eachfof said sidewalls, so that" the lower portion of the collar 50 extends below the lower edge 520i the casing 25. This collar 50 is provided with a passageway 54 therethrough communicating with the compartment 45. At its lower end the'casing 25 has secured exteriorly thereof the polygonal shaped band 56, which conforms to the shape of the side walls of the casing 25, and

is secured to the casing 25 by means of the rivets 51 above mentioned, so that the lower edge 57 of said band 56 lies flush with the lower edge 52 of the casing 25. Securedto the lower outersurface of that portion of the collar 50 which extends below the easing edge 52 is an annular band 60, which may be constructed of aluminum or like ma; terial, similar to the aluminum collar 50 and aluminum band 56; this band 60 being secured to the outer surface of the said lower portion of the collar 50 by means of detachable bolts 61, so that the upper edge 62 of said band 60 is spaced from the lower flush edges 52 and 57 above mentioned, to provide the annular groove 65 between the edges 52 and 62,which is adapted to rotatably receive the circular body portion 66 of the lamp supporting bracket 67. 1

The bracket 67 is preferably constructed of wrought iron or analogous durable material,

and the circular portion 66 is of just sufficient width that its upper and lower edges contact in sliding abutment against the flush edges 52 and 57 and the edge 62 of the band 60. Radially extending from the body portion 66 is the bracket plate attaching shank 70,

operating rules of any particular railway.

It is preferred that when the bracket is seecured to the train attaching plate 13, the lamp casing have an amplitude of movcn'ient of substantially 90to either position the red lenstothe rear, or a green lens. In order to hold the lamp casing in a definite relation to the bracket 67, a spring operated bolt 75 is slidably carried by guide bands 76 below the bracket shank 70, including a head 77 adapted to be normally urged by the sprlng operation oi the bolts against the band 60 ofthe casing collar 50, and more particularly into either of a pair of openings 78 or 79 provided in this band 60. To limit the amplitude of movement of rotation of the casing with respect to the bracket it is preferred to provide stop lugs or elements 80, riveted as at 81 to the exterior surface of the casing attached band 56, and

including lower end portions which extend downwardly across the plane in which the circular body portion 66 of the bracket 67 is positioned, in order that the shank may abut against the beveled edges 82 of said stop members 80, substantially as is illustrated in 1*igures2, l, 5 and 6 of the draw ings; itbeing understood that the flanges 71 of said shank 7O abut against the stop 'members 80 when moved to the correct positioning of the lamp casing with respect to the bracket, so that the spring bolt 75 will enter either oi the openings 78 or 79, ac

cording to the color signal which it is desired to display to the rear of the train coach A. y

Referring to the detachable lamp member supporting construction 28, the same includes an aluminum base 85 of a novel construction, which is adapted to dctachahly lit within the passageway 54 of the casing attaching collar 50. This base 65 imludes the circular or disc shaped body 87, having an annularlydepending attaching flange 85? which upwardly from the lower marginal edge'89 thereof is provided with bayonet slots 90 of any approved formation-and,

the flange88 at right angles to'the edge 89;

a diagonal or inclined intermediate portion .92; and an upper notch portion 98 disposed at right angles to the lower edge 89 ofsaid flange 88. A plurality otradially extending steel pins 95, preferably three in number, are carried bythe collar 50, and project into the passageway 5 1 as a means of supporting the base 85 incident to the reception of the projecting ends of said pins 95 in the bayonet slots 90. The pins 95 are preferably provided 120 apart, as are also the bayonet slots 90. Between adjacent bayonet slots the base 85 is preferably provided with vertical passageways 100 extending upwardly entirely along the attaching flange 88 and through the edge portion of the top wall or disc 87 said passageways 100 being provided as a means of elevatingthe base 85 vthru the pas sageway 54: of the collar 50 past the projecting ends of the pins until the base 85 is elevated so that the said base may be turned slightly to permit the entrance of the projecting ends of the pins 95 into the bayonet slots 90.

Upwardly upon the top wall or disc 87 ot the base 85 it is preferred to fiira porcelain socket 101 of any approved character, which detachably receives therein the metal plug end 102 of an incandescent bulb 103. Flexible .wires 104i and 105 preferably extend downwardly through the base wall 87, through the collar passageway 54-, and are received in flexible armored cable 106; said flexible armored cable 106 preferably con-c stituting a portion of the electric current conducting means D. At the free end of the flexible armored cable 106, the wires 104. and 105 are connected to a plug 107, which may be received within an electric socket 108 installed at a corner of the train A, and preterably on the rear wall 109 of said train or coach A, as a means of providing an electric connection for the marker lamp C.

The flange 88 of the base 85 is also providcd with means to grasp the same and facilitate the rotation ot the unit 28 to permit its attachment or detachment with respect to the lamp housing, and this means for so grasping the unit 28 preferably comprises three radially extending pins 110. connected at their ends in the flange 88 and extending radially thereof and at their proximate ends being connected in a connecting hub 111 axially disposed in the passageway 54. the hub 111 is spaced from the interior surface of the flange 88 the intermediate portions of the pins 110 are exposed so thata person reaching upwardly through the passageway 54 01: the collar 50 may readily grasp the same with his lingers to rotate theunit2Z tor the purpose otefiectingah tajchment or detachment with respect to the.

casing '25. Thesedpins 110 and hub 111 reallyconstitute a hand grasping spider at:

tached tothe base 85 to facilitate its removal orattachment, or to perform a rota: tion of the entire casing with respect to its bracket, for changing a signal. 1 1

From the foregoing description of this invention it will be apparent that a novel type otmarker lamp has been provided, whichis especially well adapted to be used in contrain or coach to which the marker lamp isattached. a The. marker lamp vasillustrated is. swingable through 90 to display the proper lens, and the stopgmembers limit.

the movement of the lamp ;=the springbolt 75 holding the casing in the desired position with respect to the supporting bracket 67. The flexible wires and armored cable enter through the bottom passageway of the lamp casing and the collar 50, and are so positioned that their connection with the lamp bulb and base of the lamp bulb is protected from accumulation of snow, ice, or other foreign materials, and the opening in the casing permits the facile attachment and detachment of the unit construction 28 with respect to the casing 25. The removable electric lamp carrying unit is of novel construction and attachment, and may be stably mounted within the casing by means of the bayonet slots of the base upon the inwardly projecting pins 95. The entrance of the unit 28 to the casing is ell'ected through the bottom of the casing and through the passageway 54% of the collar 50; the vertical passageways 100 being aligning with the inwardly projecting ends of the pins 95, and the base 85 moved upwardly by sliding the base wit-h the passageways 100 along the pins 95 until the base 85 is positioned above the pins 95. By slight rotation of the base 85 the bayonet slots may be positioned to engage over the inwardly projecting ends of the pins 95 to secure the attachment of the base 85 and the unit 28 in the casing, in the relation illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. To efiect such attachment or detachment of the casing the spider carried by the base is of course important, and the entire casing 25 may be rotated by means of this spider, to change the positioning of the casing 25 in the bracket body 66. Thus, a compact, light in weight, and economically constructed and efiicient operating marker lamp has been provided, which embodies features particularly well adapted to render the use of an electric marker lamp practical for use of signalling on train coaches. The

facility with which the bulb may be renewed and repairs made is important, since with the oil burning type of lamp the entire re moval of the lamp is necessitated, whereas with theimproved type of electrically operated marker lamp 0, it is only necessary to detach the lamp carrying unit 28,

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of this'invention or the scope of the claims.

NVe claim: a

1. In a marker lamp the combination of a casing includin a top wall, side walls having openings therein, lenses supported in the openings of said sidewalls, said casing being open downwardly therethrough, a collar fixed in thedownward opening through said casing and itself providing a passageway communicating with the interior of the easing, an annular band carried by said collar below the lower edge of the casing and providing an annular groove between the lower edge of the casin and upper edge of said annular band, a amp unit for support in the casing, and a supporting bracket including an attaching shank and an annular supporting body slidably mounted in the annular groove above mentioned.

2. In a. marker lamp the combination of a casing, a lamp for the casing, means on the lower portion of the casing provii'ling an annular groove, a ring slidablc in the an nular groove having a bracket arm radially extendlng therefrom, and spaced stop members rigid with the casing extending downwardly across said groove for abutment with the bracket arm to limit the amplitude of rotation of the lamp with respect to the ring of the bracket arm whereby one or the other of two sides of the casing may be faced in a desired direction.

WILLIAM B. nanny, JR. EDWARD e. MYERS. 

